David Mallery
@dmallery.bsky.social
Lecturer in ecological economics | complexity theory | post-normal science | ecological political economy | misplaced New Yorker | Edinburgher | glen enthusiast
Reposted by David Mallery
I wanted dinner recommendations so I scraped 13,000+ London restaurants and accidentally discovered Google Maps is running a shadow economy. Anyway here's a dashboard and a political economy thesis: open.substack.com/pub/laurenle...
How Google Maps quietly allocates survival across London’s restaurants - and how I built a dashboard to see through it
I wanted a dinner recommendation and got a research agenda instead. Using 13000+ restaurants, I rebuild its ratings with machine learning and map how algorithmic visibility actually distributes power.
open.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:53 AM
I wanted dinner recommendations so I scraped 13,000+ London restaurants and accidentally discovered Google Maps is running a shadow economy. Anyway here's a dashboard and a political economy thesis: open.substack.com/pub/laurenle...
Reposted by David Mallery
George Orwell warned: bad writing leads to bad thinking.
Academia trains us to write for journals, not the public.
Clarity feels risky, because it exposes us.
But clear communication is essential for democracy.
So how do we do it?
🧵
New post 👉 catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/why-clarit...
Academia trains us to write for journals, not the public.
Clarity feels risky, because it exposes us.
But clear communication is essential for democracy.
So how do we do it?
🧵
New post 👉 catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/why-clarit...
Why Clarity Feels Dangerous (Especially If You’re an Academic)
The Hardest Work in Writing Is Saying What You Really Mean
catherineeunicedevries.substack.com
July 9, 2025 at 12:40 PM
George Orwell warned: bad writing leads to bad thinking.
Academia trains us to write for journals, not the public.
Clarity feels risky, because it exposes us.
But clear communication is essential for democracy.
So how do we do it?
🧵
New post 👉 catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/why-clarit...
Academia trains us to write for journals, not the public.
Clarity feels risky, because it exposes us.
But clear communication is essential for democracy.
So how do we do it?
🧵
New post 👉 catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/why-clarit...
Reposted by David Mallery
Why? Because neoliberalism replaced empowered freedom with economic freedom, it hollowed out the democratic functions of public life, while at the same time failing to deliver, and even betraying, those functions at the institutional level.
Young Europeans losing faith in democracy, poll finds www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Young Europeans losing faith in democracy, poll finds
Support is lowest in France, Spain and Poland, while 21% back authoritarian rule under certain circumstances
www.theguardian.com
July 4, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Why? Because neoliberalism replaced empowered freedom with economic freedom, it hollowed out the democratic functions of public life, while at the same time failing to deliver, and even betraying, those functions at the institutional level.
Reposted by David Mallery
"If you know that things are bound to happen whatever you do, then you may feel free to give up the fight against them.“
Karl Popper, The Open Society and its Enemies.
Karl Popper, The Open Society and its Enemies.
June 18, 2025 at 8:59 AM
"If you know that things are bound to happen whatever you do, then you may feel free to give up the fight against them.“
Karl Popper, The Open Society and its Enemies.
Karl Popper, The Open Society and its Enemies.
Reposted by David Mallery
Can't help but think of a paraphrase of William Gibson's old chestnut: The war is already here, it's just not evenly distributed.
June 13, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Can't help but think of a paraphrase of William Gibson's old chestnut: The war is already here, it's just not evenly distributed.
Reposted by David Mallery
Those trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy are dangerously naive.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
April 3, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Those trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy are dangerously naive.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
This recalls Nordhaus insisting climate impacts on agriculture would not produce "a very large effect," since ag is only 3% of GDP. 40% poorer is the least of our worries at 4C hotter. The issue isn't economic models underestimating CC; it's that monetary valuation cannot encompass the true cost.
Average person will be 40% poorer if world warms by 4C, new research shows
Experts say previous economic models underestimated impact of global heating – as well as likely ‘cascading supply chain disruptions’
www.theguardian.com
April 1, 2025 at 12:49 PM
This recalls Nordhaus insisting climate impacts on agriculture would not produce "a very large effect," since ag is only 3% of GDP. 40% poorer is the least of our worries at 4C hotter. The issue isn't economic models underestimating CC; it's that monetary valuation cannot encompass the true cost.
Reposted by David Mallery
Smart, sober response from Canada’s Prime Minister to the destruction my government is wreaking. The US won the geo-political lottery having Canada and Mexico as neighbors, and the Trump Administration is destroying our advantages.
Carney: "The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over."
March 27, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Smart, sober response from Canada’s Prime Minister to the destruction my government is wreaking. The US won the geo-political lottery having Canada and Mexico as neighbors, and the Trump Administration is destroying our advantages.
Reposted by David Mallery
I spent my Tuesday at an event in Warsaw listening to representatives from Polish civil society discussing their experience in fighting back against authoritarianism. Maybe it's time for pro-democracy groups in the US to start engaging with them because that's clearly not happening at the moment.
March 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I spent my Tuesday at an event in Warsaw listening to representatives from Polish civil society discussing their experience in fighting back against authoritarianism. Maybe it's time for pro-democracy groups in the US to start engaging with them because that's clearly not happening at the moment.
'The Trump/Musk team hopes to complete dismantling and then reordering the Deep State before the base catches on. Then, once the media, universities and liberal donors have been intimidated sufficiently, it will be too late to protest effectively. That is the plan.'
Fighting the Neoliberal-Fascist Coup by Trump and Musk | Common Dreams
Time is short during a fascist takeover attempt. And Trump and Musk are moving at breakneck speed. The stakes could not be higher.
www.commondreams.org
March 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
'The Trump/Musk team hopes to complete dismantling and then reordering the Deep State before the base catches on. Then, once the media, universities and liberal donors have been intimidated sufficiently, it will be too late to protest effectively. That is the plan.'
Reposted by David Mallery
Thomas Homer-Dixon: "The rules-based international order on which the principle of territorial sovereignty is based – is unravelling towards something akin to Thomas Hobbes’ state of nature – a world governed by brute force and the will of the strongest." #Canada cascadeinstitute.org/prepare-for-...
If you want peace, prepare for war—an ancient lesson Canada must remember - Cascade Institute %
Cascade Institute Executive Director Thomas Homer-Dixon urges Canada to bolster its defenses against a the growing threat of an authoritarian and imperialist U.S. regime.
cascadeinstitute.org
March 23, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Thomas Homer-Dixon: "The rules-based international order on which the principle of territorial sovereignty is based – is unravelling towards something akin to Thomas Hobbes’ state of nature – a world governed by brute force and the will of the strongest." #Canada cascadeinstitute.org/prepare-for-...
Reposted by David Mallery
The US is not doing a "reverse Kissinger" (splitting Russia from China). It is destroying the Western Alliance from within, thereby helping Russia and China. Hard to get your head around. Best attempt is this here: foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/18/u...
The Key to Understanding Trump’s Chaotic Foreign Policy
Around the world, the White House seems to be aiding autocracies at the expense of democracy.
foreignpolicy.com
March 24, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The US is not doing a "reverse Kissinger" (splitting Russia from China). It is destroying the Western Alliance from within, thereby helping Russia and China. Hard to get your head around. Best attempt is this here: foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/18/u...
Reposted by David Mallery
Together, these two faiths crave the end of American liberal democracy and government. You can smell it at GSA.
They won't replace us with AI because 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍. They want our work to end. DOGE is firing us as fast as possible, and that is the whole plan.
They won't replace us with AI because 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍. They want our work to end. DOGE is firing us as fast as possible, and that is the whole plan.
March 21, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Together, these two faiths crave the end of American liberal democracy and government. You can smell it at GSA.
They won't replace us with AI because 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍. They want our work to end. DOGE is firing us as fast as possible, and that is the whole plan.
They won't replace us with AI because 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍. They want our work to end. DOGE is firing us as fast as possible, and that is the whole plan.
Reposted by David Mallery
Always remember--this is not a case of Trump appeasing Putin--its actually him joining Putin. Its not Munich 1938, its the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939.
March 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Always remember--this is not a case of Trump appeasing Putin--its actually him joining Putin. Its not Munich 1938, its the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939.
Reposted by David Mallery
1-3
Evidence mounting of a secret Putin-Trump agreement to subjugate Europe.
Telegraph reports:
" “Trump is angry that they [Europe] appear to be pushing for war,” a source close to the White House said. "
(...)
"the president is considering redeploying troops from Germany to Hungary"
Evidence mounting of a secret Putin-Trump agreement to subjugate Europe.
Telegraph reports:
" “Trump is angry that they [Europe] appear to be pushing for war,” a source close to the White House said. "
(...)
"the president is considering redeploying troops from Germany to Hungary"
March 8, 2025 at 8:51 AM
1-3
Evidence mounting of a secret Putin-Trump agreement to subjugate Europe.
Telegraph reports:
" “Trump is angry that they [Europe] appear to be pushing for war,” a source close to the White House said. "
(...)
"the president is considering redeploying troops from Germany to Hungary"
Evidence mounting of a secret Putin-Trump agreement to subjugate Europe.
Telegraph reports:
" “Trump is angry that they [Europe] appear to be pushing for war,” a source close to the White House said. "
(...)
"the president is considering redeploying troops from Germany to Hungary"
Reposted by David Mallery
1/ Donald Trump may be aiming to annex the Great Lakes – and possibly south-eastern Ontario in a maximalist scenario – and kick Canada out of NORAD, judging by first-hand accounts of talks between Canada and the Trump Administration. ⬇️
March 7, 2025 at 3:08 PM
1/ Donald Trump may be aiming to annex the Great Lakes – and possibly south-eastern Ontario in a maximalist scenario – and kick Canada out of NORAD, judging by first-hand accounts of talks between Canada and the Trump Administration. ⬇️
Reposted by David Mallery
This is not how or why I wanted liberal democracies to come around to the idea of taxing the wealthy, but, at this point, I'll take what I can get. Why is it there's never a "magic money tree" until we suddenly need to bail out the banks, or build tanks and drones?
French economy minister floats taxing the rich to fund military buildup
To raise money for an increase in defense spending, Paris is looking at tapping into “those with substantial savings.”
www.politico.eu
March 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This is not how or why I wanted liberal democracies to come around to the idea of taxing the wealthy, but, at this point, I'll take what I can get. Why is it there's never a "magic money tree" until we suddenly need to bail out the banks, or build tanks and drones?
Reposted by David Mallery
the vice president of the united states is a groyper who spends his online time following nazis and esoteric reactionary influencers is true and yet the press seems completely disinterested in it
If you listen to that last clip of the US VP doing the rounds, it does feel like some sort of analysis showing what these people are huffing on the regular is sorely missing from mainstream commentary
This is it. You cannot explain in polite conversation that the higher echelons of US policy making are on personal terms with something called Bronze Age Pervert without yourself sounding like a maniac
March 4, 2025 at 5:40 PM
the vice president of the united states is a groyper who spends his online time following nazis and esoteric reactionary influencers is true and yet the press seems completely disinterested in it
Reposted by David Mallery
Tyranny has come to America and our political class is so convinced of the fact that political ideas must be disguised in the language of grocery prices that it is unwilling and unable to even say what’s happening
March 4, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Tyranny has come to America and our political class is so convinced of the fact that political ideas must be disguised in the language of grocery prices that it is unwilling and unable to even say what’s happening
Reposted by David Mallery
Millennials are a goldilocks generation raised in the narrow window between leaded gasoline and social media and hooooo boy is that showing these days
in this house, we have heckin' doggos, we adult like a boss, we drink IPAs, we listen to Matt and Kim, and we also are apparently the only age cohort meaningfully committed to liberal democracy
March 3, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Millennials are a goldilocks generation raised in the narrow window between leaded gasoline and social media and hooooo boy is that showing these days
Reposted by David Mallery
Some of the most prominent realists keep giving realism a bad name by being unrealistic—stubbornly clinging to an abstract theory rather than facing reality—and making predictions that are quickly disproven by real world events.
Despite the repeated egg on their face, they have learned nothing.
Despite the repeated egg on their face, they have learned nothing.
March 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Some of the most prominent realists keep giving realism a bad name by being unrealistic—stubbornly clinging to an abstract theory rather than facing reality—and making predictions that are quickly disproven by real world events.
Despite the repeated egg on their face, they have learned nothing.
Despite the repeated egg on their face, they have learned nothing.
Reposted by David Mallery
Every Dem should be doing this right now. What we’re experiencing now is that political capital is for. If you can’t burn your political capital when the opposition is trying to destroy everything that upholds a liberal democracy, what are you waiting for?
Like Tim Walz said, “You don't win elections to bank political capital — you win elections to burn political capital and improve lives.”
March 2, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Every Dem should be doing this right now. What we’re experiencing now is that political capital is for. If you can’t burn your political capital when the opposition is trying to destroy everything that upholds a liberal democracy, what are you waiting for?
“We now have three illiberal superpowers: Russia, China and the US... America can no longer be considered an ally of Europe." ...The US will not prosper in this disordered, survival-of-the-fittest world it is creating, “because they will be completely isolated”.
"You can never win with fire alone."
"You can never win with fire alone."
‘Trump is abandoning Ukraine and wants a weaker EU’: Dominique de Villepin on Europe’s moment of truth
The former French PM says the US is no longer an ally of Europe – but has joined Russia and China as an ‘illiberal superpower’
www.theguardian.com
March 1, 2025 at 2:29 PM
“We now have three illiberal superpowers: Russia, China and the US... America can no longer be considered an ally of Europe." ...The US will not prosper in this disordered, survival-of-the-fittest world it is creating, “because they will be completely isolated”.
"You can never win with fire alone."
"You can never win with fire alone."
Reposted by David Mallery
“If Roosevelt had told Churchill to sue for peace on any terms with Adolf Hitler and to fork over Britain’s coal reserves to the United States in exchange for no American security guarantees, it might have approximated what Trump did to Zelensky.” www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/o...
Opinion | A Day of American Infamy (Gift Article)
A dreadful moment for Ukraine, for the free world, for the legacy of an America that once stood for the principles of the Atlantic Charter.
www.nytimes.com
March 1, 2025 at 1:34 PM
“If Roosevelt had told Churchill to sue for peace on any terms with Adolf Hitler and to fork over Britain’s coal reserves to the United States in exchange for no American security guarantees, it might have approximated what Trump did to Zelensky.” www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/o...